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Advocates Join to Promote Desktop Linux
phatvibez writes "Cnet is running a story that says 'Several companies have joined to launch a consortium to promote Linux for desktop computers, a significant expansion for an operating system that today fits more comfortably on servers.' This is great news, I hope they actually do something and we see some great stuff come from this!" Another submission on this note: TweetZilla writes "According to ExtremeTech, Suse is taking a play from Xandros. Crossover Office and Plugin are now bundled into Suse's desktop to provide Windows and Office compatibility." Update: 02/04 18:18 GMT by T : Here's a link to the consortium's web site.
An "Outlook/Exchange killer".
Such programs usually prefer to be called "worms"
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
The article doesn't say so, but the Samba and Ximian teams are involved too.
,
faeryman
A good place ot start understanding about design huristics is www.humanfactors.com/home/default.asp
With that said, after coding GUI's in Swing for 4 years (doing other non-code stuff now) focusing on productivity and usability for the end-user, I simply love Mas OSX's Aqua skin and the design of most Apple products. Very usable. A pleasure to look at. And a guide for any GUI developer to learn from. Search Apple's site for a design guide.
Free Geek, in Portland, Oregon does provide Linux as a desktop solution to those who are not computer literate.
Free Geek, formed as a response to the growing problem of disposal of obsolete computers, has a program to take discarded computers, fix them up,
load them with Debian Linux with Openoffice, and then give them to those in need.
Parts of the program include mandatory volunteer time for those who wish the free computers. This volunteer time does include taking computers apart, testing the components, assembling the computers, loading them with a Debian image over the network, and then basic Linux training.
Many of the people who partake in the program have never had a computer in their life. Almost all of them are not linux/server/geek literate when they walk in the door. When they walk out, they at least know enough to use the computer for basic desktop functions as word processing, email, and using the web on the Internet.
This can show that at a grass-roots level, promoting Linux at the desktop can work.
Mark
Cleara
This is all well and good and I'm excited about it, it's a step in the right direction. The only thing that I could add would be to bring in the hardware manufacturers, Hardwares like Digital Camera, Printer, Webcam, etc.
An avarage user would like to have that installation CD comes with the digikam that they just purchased. they are not savy enough to download 20 different tarballs and rpms to get it going.
For this to really work, they should get some computer manufactors behind it.
If this consortium developes a friendly version of Linux aimed at desktop users and are successful at promoting it, they consumer would still have to install it on their system and in some cases configure hardware and whatnot.
If they were to work with Dell, or HP/Compaq were they would be able to ship "Restore" and "Recover" CD's with the machines, when something goes wrong, the user would simply be able to boot off the CD and restore the computer into the state it was when it was brought home. The operating system would be installed, all the hardware would be configured.
The German government is funding the development of such Exchange/Outlook type groupware via the KDE people. You've also got Evolution as an Outlook replacement, and Oracle has a groupware server that Outlook can plug right into, and it has all of Exchange's functionality. Plus, there's the Bynari solution, which also replicates Exchange's functionality.
There are more an more alternatives every day.
Life is hard, and the world is cruel
This is my third time trying linux, on Redhat 8. I'm microsoft free, and finding it somewhat difficult to stay here. The main reason is taht I'm a little afraid to ask. Any time a 'newbie' asks for help, it's assumed that they're not worthy of the knowledge or something. I'm not sure of the mentallity of it, but it really makes it difficult.
The lack of software really doesn't bother me that much. all i did on windows is Battlefield 1942 and the webdesign stuffs. Now i use JEdit for java, text editing webpages, and Gimp for graphics. The only thing i'm missing is Battlefield.
The reason I always came back to windows in the past was out of laziness. First of all, it's really a steep learning curve, unless all you want to do is email and browse teh internet. Stuff like changing my resolultion, fixing my soundcard, and figuring out the file system held me back before.
Anyway, thats just my story. I'm sure there's a lot more people who try to switch, and for one reason or another just find it easier to give in and put windows back on. If there was more of a willingness to help newbies understand the basics without making them feel like morons, I beleive there'd be a lot more perminent switchers to linux.
[http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-desktop/]
...anyone who wants to be!"
"The Debian Desktop subproject is a group of volunteers who want to create the best possible operating system for home and corporate workstation use. Our motto is "Software which Just Works". In short, our goal is to bring Debian, GNU, and Linux to the mainstream world."
"Who's involved in Debian Desktop